As an investigation gets under way into a fatal air crash that left two of Britain's top jockeys injured, one of them has paid tribute to the dead pilot.

Frankie Dettori and Ray Cochrane are preparing to spend a second night recovering in hospital from the crash, which killed pilot Patrick Mackey.

We just feel so lucky to be alive

Frankie Dettori and Ray Cochrane

Mr Mackey, 52, from Axminster, Devon, had been a pilot for 15 years.

In a joint statement, Dettori and Cochrane said: "We just feel so lucky to be alive and would like to thank everybody for their concern and good wishes.

"Patrick, the pilot, did a fantastic job. We would like to express our sympathy to his family and say that we owe our lives to his skill and courage."

Both jockeys are to stay in hospital for another day and possibily over the weekend.

A spokeswoman for Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge said a decision on whether to operate on Dettori's broken ankle would be made later on Friday.

She added: "Mr Dettori and Mr Cochrane are comfortable and sitting up in bed.

Catherine Dettori: "Very shocking"

"Both have initially been given time to recover from the trauma of the serious accident and have been seen by the relevant specialist teams.

"Mr Cochrane has extensive bruising to his chest and face. The trauma team that are looking after him are very pleased with his progress but feel they need to monitor him further before they make a decision about his discharge."

It will be some time before either jockey is fit to race again. Dettori is likely to be out of racing for at least two months.

'Miracle'

Police said the jockeys had had a "miracle" escape when their plane crashed in flames at Newmarket racecourse.

Officers from the Air Accident Investigations Branch travelled to the crash scene and an investigation into the cause has been launched.

The crash comes just a month after another famous sportsman - motor racing driver David Coulthard - survived a fatal air accident.

Plane 'bouncing'

The American-built twin-engined Piper Seneca aircraft crashed at about 1230 BST on Thursday, shortly after taking off for Goodwood in West Sussex where they had been due to take part in a race meeting.

Cochrane, 42, helped Dettori from the plane and then went back to the blazing
wreckage to try to rescue the pilot, witnesses said.

Frankie Dettori has a broken ankle

Dettori's wife, Catherine said he called her on a mobile phone minutes after the crash.

"He said 'We have had a crash on the July course, and the pilot is dead'," Mrs Dettori told reporters as she visited her husband in hospital.

"It is all very shocking. We cannot really get our heads around it.

"You just never think it's going to happen to you or anyone you know."

Mrs Dettori praised Cochrane for helping her husband and said her thoughts were with the family of the pilot.

She added: "From what I can gather the plane was bouncing on the ground after they took off.

"He (Dettori) thinks one of the propellers was caught on the edge as it was
bouncing.